Arab Girl Who Harassed IDF Soldier to Serve Full 8 Months

The parole board of the Israel Prison Service (IPS) on Wednesday rejected the request of Ahed Tamimi from the village of Nabi Saleh to deduct a third of her prison sentence.

Tamimi, 17, is infamous for her appearances in videos in which she confronts Israeli soldiers who are forbidden to slap her back by the IDF rules of engagement. In December 2017, Tamimi was detained by Israeli authorities for slapping a soldier after the video of the incident had gone viral. She was sentenced to eight months in prison and a 5,000 shekel ($1,400) fine in a plea bargain.

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The parole board rejected Tamimi’s plea because she had shown “no expression of remorse, severity of the offenses and assessment of the danger.”

Tamimi is scheduled to be released from prison next month.

An opinion submitted to the parole board by the Shabak regarding Tamimi’s current threat suggested “the statements she made show her extremist ideology, which, together with the security situation on the ground, indicate her potential for being dangerous should she be released prematurely.”

In addition, intelligence reports were submitted regarding the girl, who was involved in negative activity during her time behind bars.

The state requested that the early release appeal not be granted, stressing that the prisoner continued to pose a threat and a risk, and did not express regret for her actions. The state also noted that Tamimi had not undergone any treatment while in prison.

Tamimi’s attorney argued that she is being punished for expressing her political views, and accused the state of using the difficult situation in the Arab-Israeli conflict against the prisoner.

The committee’s decision states that “it is impossible to ignore the Shabak’s opinion and the severity of the offenses attributed to the prisoner, and especially their circumstances, as well as the prisoner’s position that she would continue in this way and does not regret her actions.

“In light of the above, and in light of the lack of expression of remorse, the central criterion in the committee consideration of the early release is the severity of the offenses, and, most importantly, the assessment of the danger, in considering the security forces who work day and night and are exposed to repeated injuries to their persons.”